Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Tuesday Evening Quarterback

2 comments:

dawizofodds
said...

Idaho Coach Nick Holt announced that Michael Harrington will start at quarterback Thursday at Washington State (minus 27). If the Harrington name sounds familiar, his brother, Joey, is the former Oregon standout and current Detroit Lion quarterback. In yet another case of a quarterback looking over his shoulder, Holt said that No. 2 Steve Wichman also will play.

Hurricane Katrina forced two games to be postponed and one to be canceled, the most notable postponement being North Texas-Louisiana State (no line listed on USA Today). Why should the sports investor take note? Louisiana State now opens Sept. 10 at home against Arizona State, which should give the Sun Devils an advantage, having played Temple (plus 27.5) this Thursday. Teams generally improve most between their first and second games. Tulane’s game Sunday at Southern Mississippi (minus 10) also has been postponed to Nov. 26. Tulane won’t play until Sept. 17, but given the developing situation in New Orleans, even that date could be questionable. Southern Mississippi opens Sept. 10 at Alabama, which plays host on Saturday to Middle Tennessee (no line). Utah State will play rival Utah on Sept. 10 without having played a game. The Aggies were to open Saturday against Nichols State (no line), but that game has been canceled.

Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan named junior college transfer Zac Taylor as his starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Maine (no line). Now, about that defense that gave up 70 points to Texas Tech and had three starters drafted in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.

Washington Coach Tyrone Willingham finally has a starting quarterback, but it wasn't by his choice. Johnny Durocher was determined to be ineligible for three games because of an NCAA transfer rule. So Isaiah Stanback starts against Air Force (plus 3). Casey Paus will be No. 2 until Durocher returns.

UCLA backup quarterback Ben Olson won't be available Saturday against San Diego State (plus 7.5). He has a small fracture on his throwing hand. Olson was locked in a tight battle with Drew Olson to become the starter before getting injured. David Koral, who was brilliant (and in my opinion, the best QB on the Bruin roster) in the Las Vegas Bowl last year, is No. 2.